Barbizon Blog

Do you remember being read the fairy tale Chicken Little when you were young?  In the story, the chicken is obsessed about the sky falling down and didn’t notice Foxy Woxy prepping for a nice chicken salad. There’s a little bit of Chicken Little in everyone.  Instead of focusing on what’s in front of us, we humans devote too much time to daydreams and thinking about everything but reality.  In many cases, it’s not sweet dreams but worrying or “awfulizing” that eats up our time.

Do you have the “What ifs?”  What if I fail the math test?  What if I never find a boyfriend?  What percentage of the day do you spending imagining worse case scenarios?  Optimism, in reasonable doses, is far more constructive than pessimism and it will inspire you.  But be careful.  Too much optimism and believing “nothing bad will happen” can give you a false sense of security.  Talking to a parent, older sibling, or teacher as well as going to Barbizon can help you develop a more positive way of thinking.

by Barbizon Student Stephanie Conley

Dear Barbizon Friends:

Though we have not known each other long,
I feel as if we have grown up together.
We have built friendships
That will last a lifetime
And memories to cherish.

I came to this school six months ago
Hoping I wouldn’t be embarrassed about myself.
My hardest struggle has always been
Taking off the mask and “being me.”

From the first day I walked in,
I had this comforting feeling
That I was going to be okay.
Everyone has placed a special moment in my heart
That I will carry with me forever.

Although we may lose touch,
I will never forget my time here at Barbizon
With you…

Given that the New Year 2010 is upon us, this may be the time to develop new interests and talents. Barbizon has some tips and tricks to help you get started:

–Keep an open mind about your new activities even if your friends are not involved and don’t think they’re cool.

–Many new activities are hard at first.  Don’t give up, keep trying.

–Practice makes perfect so do so at least once per day.

–Once you start an activity, complete it.  Don’t drop out in the middle.

–Make getting to know new friends part of the fun.

–Don’t spread yourself thin by trying too many new activities at once.  Limit yourself to just a few.

–Find new activities that combine your interests.

–Accept that competition is a part of life and that most things worth doing take a lot of effort.

–Always remain enthusiastic and above all have fun.

Make Barbizon Modeling and Acting Classes part of your activities for 2010.   Contact Us to find out how.

Barbizon Modeling is giving you a chance to appear in an upcoming issue of J-14 Magazine! Enter and submit your picture on-line. One lucky winner will be selected each month. Good luck!

When is the last time you felt angry? What triggered it? How did you react? Looking back, do you feel this was the right response? If not, what should you have done differently? Before the anger strikes, practice these every day:

Meditate: Through daily meditation we allow the mind to “rest” and deepen our sense of spirituality.
Relax: Through daily relaxation we calm our breathing and bring our nervous sysem into balance.
Make Healthy Food Choices: By eating healthfully we get adequate fuel for energy and avoid foods that throw our systems into chaos.
Think Positively: Positive thoughts affect our overall mood and even our health.
Take Time Out: Time to play gives us time to be creative, to relax, to laugh and to lighten up.
Rest: Sleep allows the body to rest and the mind to “clean itself.”
Exercise: Exercise is a major stress reducer. It produces feel-good chemicals in our bodies that counteract anger.
Enjoy Close Relationships: We all need this to reduce our sense of isolation and calm ourselves.
Get an Interest: Be a joiner and contributor. Find constructive, creative, and/or challenging ways to channel your energy in positive directions.
Keep a Good Attitude: Turn a situation around and around in your mind like a kaleidoscope until you can get the right light on it.

Barbizon’s life changing curriculum can help you in any situation. Also, visit the That’ s Not Cool website for more insightful information.

Happy New Year! A new year means new resolutions. What are yours for 2009? At Barbizon we will show you some ways to stick with them and reach your goals:

• Make it all about you. Experts say that we lose our motivation for accomplishing goals because we base them on impressing others. Your resolution should reflect your wishes.
• Make it routine. Look for ways to make fulfilling your goals easier, so you follow through. If you’ve decided to write in your journal every morning at 6:00am, then organize your writing space the night before so that you will be ready in the morning.
• Make a backup plan. Decide ahead of time how you’ll cope if your best intentions don’t pan out before January even ends. If you know that you usually fall off the workout wagon after a few weeks, schedule a weekly exercise class so something’s in place to keep you on track.

Think about how much time some people spend just sitting around. Now, think about all of the exciting things there are to do in your community like attending events, visiting museums, and seeing new sights. All of these things can help enhance your personality. Are you a couch potato or an emerging butterfly?

Practice laughing at your own mistakes, whether you are alone or with others. Try not to defend your mistakes. Admit them graciously and apologize for them if the situation calls for it. A good sense of humor gives you an aura of self-confidence. Do you laugh with the whole world or do you cry alone?

Now a days, teens have a lot of pressure to get good grades, being involved in the after school activities, and just doing as much as they can to be as well-rounded as possible. 

At Barbizon we understand how hectic life is for teens.  What do you think? Do you have any tips on making all your activities fit into the day without feeling overwhelmed?

It has always been an issue of concern that women who are in the public eye are excessively thin. Barbizon realizes that it’s just not a concern for those who are aspiring to be a model or actress, but the message it sends to everyone.

Some measures have even been put in place. Last season (2006) fashion officials in Madrid – where excessively skinny models were banned from their catwalk – the Italian Chamber of Fashion has decreed that in order to walk the Milan runways, a model will need a license issued by an impressive tag-team of dignitaries: a committee of city officials, the Chamber of Fashion, the Association of Fashion Services, ASSEM and a scientific committee, the license will vouch for the fact that the model is at least 16 and in good health – defined as a World Health Organization Body Mass Index of 18.5.

Barbizon wants to know what you think! Are models and actresses too thin? Do you think that the industry has a responsibility to monitor the weight of these performers?